CPI Reports Small Uptick in Food Costs in July

The most recent CPI report shows that food prices crept up by 0.2% in July, the same increase amount as June. The CPI for All Urban Consumers also increased 0.2% during the month of July. During the past year, the index for all items increased 2.9% before seasonal adjustment.

Food at home

The food at home index went up 0.1% during July, the same increase as June. Half of the major grocery store group indexes increased while half decreased. The index for fruits and vegetables saw the largest increase at 0.8%. The index for other food at home fell 0.5%, reversing a 0.5% increase in June.

Price changes for the other major grocery store groups included:

• Meats, poultry, fish, and eggs: +0.7% (+0.2% in June)
• Nonalcoholic beverages: +0.5% (+0.1% in June)
• Dairy and related products: -0.2% (+0.6% in June)
• Cereals and bakery products: -0.5% (-0.1% in June)

Over the past 12 months, the food at home index has risen 1.1%. The largest increase was seen in the index for nonalcoholic beverages, which went up 1.9%. The only decreases were in the fruits and vegetables index and the dairy and related products index, both of which fell 0.2%.

Food away from home

The food away from home index increased 0.2% in July after seeing a 0.4% increase in the two previous months. The limited service meals index went up 0.3%, and the index for full service meals went up 0.1%.

The index for food away from home increased 4.1% during the last year. The limited service meals index went up 4.3% during this time period, and the full service meals index increased 3.8%.